Machine for rolling and storing large canvas tents, tarpaulins, and the like



Jan. 2, 1951 w. c. SANGUIN EFAL 2,536,571

MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND STORING LARGE CANVAS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 TENTS, TARPAULINS,

Filed Dec. 13, 1949 INVENTORS WA'YNE C. SANGum KELLY H. MILLER ATTORNEYS ANGUIN A 2,536,571

W; C. 8 ET L MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND STORING LARGE CANVAS TENTS, TARPAULINS, AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 2, 1951 Filed Dec. 15, 1949 I1: 5 78 if uf-"mw, 36

m w I! W 64 :a 4/ 43 6f W W IEHgENTORS AYNE ANGUIN Q 0 -Auo- A C j KELLY H.MILLER 5' mw 601W v A W% 7% ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 2, 1951 assasn MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND STORING LARGE CANVAS TENTS, TARPAULINS, AND

THE LIKE Wayne '0. Sanguin and Kelly H. Miller,

Hugo, Okla.

Application December 13, 1949, Serial No. 132,718

3 Claims. 1 Our invention relates to a machine for rolling and storing large canvas tents, tarpaulins and the like.

A primary object of our invention is to provide a power-operated machine which may be used for rolling up large circus tents and tarpaulins of the type used for covering athletic fields into a highly compact and neat roll for storage.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above-mentioned character which is highly simplified in construction, compact, strong and durable.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above-mentioned character which may be constructed upon a conventional truck chassis or incorporated in a separate trailer unit or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which will be relatively cheap to build and which will prolong the life of a canvas tent or tarpaulin and save much labor in the handling of tents and tarpaulins.

Other objects and advantages of the inven-' tion willbe apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying our invention, and showing the same constructed upon a conventional motor truck;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 5+5 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral I5 designates a conventional motor truck including a horizontal main frame or chassis H which extends longitudinally rearwardly of and below the cab l2 of the truck. The truck ii! further includes an open box-type body includin a horizontal, flat bed or floor is suitably rigidly secured to the frame II. The truck body includes opposed, vertical, upstanding sides l4 rigidly secured to the bed l3 at the opposite, longitudinal side edges of the bed. The upstanding sides [4 are quite tall, as shown, and preferably extend above the roof of the cab l2.

2 The rear end and top of the truck body are'open, as shown, but'the body includes a forward, vertical end mounted upon the forwardend of the bed I3 and rigidly connecting the forward ends of the upstanding sides M.

Rigidly mounted upon the frame I I rearwardly of the cab i 2 and disposedbelow the floor or bed :3 and close to such bed is a gear box or transmission is disposed near the transverse center of the frame ll. Mounted within the gear box it is a central, horizontal, rotatable shaft I! having a drive gear l8 secured thereto for rotation therewith. The shaft ll extends forwardly of the forward side of the gear box IE, Figure 4, and is coupled through a universal joint 19 with a horizontal, longitudinally forwardly extending drive shaft 29 operatively connected with a standard power take-off shaft, not shown, extending from the rear side of the transmission of the truck. Rotatably mounted within the gear box is upon opposite sides of the shaft [1 are horizontal, longitudinally extending, rotatable shafts 2i and 22 having axially shiftable gears 23 and 2:; mounted thereon for rotation therewith. Gear shifting rods or'levers and 26 are operatively connected with the gears 23 and 24 for shifting them longitudinally or axially upon their shafts 2| and 22. The rods 25 and 26 are adapted to shift the gears 23 and 24 into and out of engagement with the central gear 18, so that rotation may be imparted to either one of the shafts 2| and 22 or to both of such shafts simultaneously, by the central drive gear IS. The rods 25 and 26 extend forwardly longitudinally from the gear box is and are operatively connected with hand or foot-operated levers, not shown, suitably mounted adjacent to the drivers seat and within the cab l2.

Longitudinally rearwardly of the gear box It, horizontal, transversely extending,v rotatable shafts 2'! and 28 are journaled in suitable bearings 29 and 33 mounted upon the truck frame I I, as shown, and laterally outwardly of the frame I l and bearings 29 and 33 additional bearings 3| and 32 are provided, and rigidly secured to the bottom of the truck bed l3 near the opposite sides of the same and outwardly of the frame I I. The shafts 2i and 28 extend longitudinally outwardly beyond the bearings 31 and 32, and secured to the shafts 2i and 28 near their outer ends for rotation therewith are small sprocket wheels 33 and 34; The shafts 2T and'28 extend slightly outwardly of the sprocket wheels 33 and 34, and such outer ends are journaled within bearing braces or arms 35 rigidly mounted upon the outer faces of the truck sides I4 near the bottoms of the same, Figures 1 and 3. The inner ends of the shafts 2'! and 28 are spaced apart and are journaled Within opposite sides of a gear casing 36 within which a short, longitudinally extending, horizontal shaft 3'! is journaled for rotation. The shaft 3'! extends longitudinally forwardly of the gear casing 36 and is operatively connected through a universal joint 38 with the rear end of the shaft 2!. Secured to the shaft 31 for rotation therewith are a pair of longitudinally spaced driving bevel gears 39 and 4!} operatively engaging driven bevel gears 4i and '42, respectively, mounted within the gear casing 35 and secured to the inner ends of the shaft 21 and 28 for rotation therewith. It is thus seen that rotation of the shaft 31 by the shaft 2! will cause the shafts 21 and 28 to rotate in the same direction.

Longitudinally forwardly of the shafts 27 and 28, and above such'shafts, a pair of aligned, laterally outwardly extending, short shafts 43 and 44 are rotatably mounted upon the outer sides or faces of the upstanding body sides l4, and these shafts 43 and 44 are preferably arranged near the vertical'center of the truck body, Figure 1. Sprocket wheels 45 and 45 are secured to the outer ends of the shafts 43 and 44 for rotation therewith and arranged in alignment with the small sprocket wheels 34 and 33 of the shafts 2'! and 28. Sprocket chains 4! and 43 serve to operatively connect the pairs of sprocket wheels 34 and 45 and 33 and 46, and these s rocket chains 41 and 48 are arranged outwardly of the upstanding sides I4, as shown.

Longitudinally rearwardly of the shafts 2'! and 28, transversely extending, horizontal, rotatable shafts 49 and are arranged parallel to the shafts 21 and 23 and disposed at the same elevation as such shafts. The shaft 49 is longer than the shaft 5! Figure 4, and is journaled within a suitable bearing 5| rigidly secured to one side of the truck frame I I, and longitud nally outwardly of the bearing 5I an additional bearing 52 rotatably receives the shaft 49, and the bearing 52 is rigidlyrnounted upon the bottom of the truck bed I3 adjacent to its right-hand side, Figure 3. Longitudinally outwardly of this bearing 52, a relatively small sprocket wheel 53 is secured to the shaft 49 near its outer end and disposed laterally outwardly of the adjacent side I4. Outwardly of the sprocket wheel 53, a bearing brace or arm 35 rotatably receives the outer end of the shaft 49 for additionally supporting the same, and this bearing brace 35 is rigidly secured to the outer face of the adjacent side I4 near the bottom of such side. An additional bearing 54 rotatably receives the shaft 49 near the transverse center of the truck body, and the bearing 54 is rigidly secured to the bottom-of the bed I 3, as shown in Figure 3. The re atively short shaft 59 is journaled within a suitable bearing 55 rigidly secured to the opposite side of the truck frame I I, and another bearing 56 rotatably receives the shaft 50 longitudinally outwardly of the bearing 55, and this bearing 55 is rigidly mounted upon the bottom of the bed I3 near the left-hand side of the bed, Figure 3. The shaft 50 extends laterally outwardly beyond the adjacent side I4, and is equipped near its outer end with a sprocket wheel 5?, identical with the sprocket wheel 53. Outwarclly of the sprocket wheel 5?, one of the bearing braces 35 rotatably receives and supports the outer end of the shaft 50, and this bearing brace is rigidly secured to the outer face of the adjacent truck side I4. The inner ends of the shafts 49 and are journaled within the opposite sides of a gear casing 58 disposed longitudinally rearwardly of the gear casing 36 and spaced laterally therefrom and toward the left-hand side of the frame I I, as shown in Figure 4. Rotatably mounted within the gear casing 58 is a short, longitudinally extending, horizontal, rotatable shaft 59 having its forward end extending forwardly of the gear casing 58 and operatively connected with the rear end of a longitudinally extending drive shaft section 69 through a universal joint or coupling 55. The forward end of the drive shaft section 50 is operatively connected through another universal joint 52 with the rear end of the shaft 22. The drive shaft section 60 is disposed beneath and close to the bed I3, but is arranged at an elevation slightly below the transverse shaft 23 so that it will clear such shaft. Mounted within the gear casing 58 and secured to the shaft 59 for rotation therewith are a pair of longitudinally spaced driving bevel gears 63 and 6d operatively engaging driven bevel gears 65 and 56, respectively, in turn secured to the inner ends of the shafts 59 and 49, respectively, for rotation therewith. It is thus seen that rotation of the shaft 59, which may be driven by the shaft 22, is imparted to the shafts 49 and 5t, and these shafts will rotate in the same direction simultaneously.

Disposed. the shafts 39 E53 and at an elevation above the same are a pair of short, laterally outwardly extending shafts ill and 68 similar to the shafts t3 and i l and arrangedat a slightly lower elevation than the shafts 43 and 44, Figure 1. Secured to the shafts 6? and 58 for rotation therewith and spaced laterall outwardly of the sides I4 are sprocket wheels 59 similar to the sprocket wheels and 3$, and the sprocket wheels 69 are arranged. in alignment with the relatively small sprocket wheels 53 and 5?, and operatively connested therewith by sprocket chains '16. Like the sprocket chains ll and 4'8, the sprocket chains is operate adjacent to the outer sides or faces of the sides it. As shown in Figure '1, the sprocket chains '59 and associated elements are arranged n ar and slightly forwardly of the rear end of the truck body.

Disposed vertically above the shafts 5'5 and E8 and near and below the tops of the sides 54, and extending horizontally and transversely between the sides It is a horizontal, rotatable roller shaft lI having its opposite ends extending slightly out wardly of the sides I4. The roller shaft ll is journaled near its opposite ends in bearings 12 rigidly secured to the inner faces of the sides M of the truck body, and large sprocket wheels l3 are secured to the opposite ends of the shaft TI outwardl of the sides i4 for rotation therewith. Vertically extending sprocket chains it are trained over the large sprocket wheels 13 and operatiyely engage lower sprocket wheels I5 which are secured to the short shafts El and E3 inwardly of the sprocket wheels 69 thereof. Mounted upon the roller shaft '1 I and extending for substantially the entire length of such shaft between the opposite sides It is a horizontally disposed pipe or tube l6 rigidly secured to the shaft H for rotation therewith by means of a plurality of longitudinally spaced set screws i7, Figure 5. The opposite ends of the tube it terminate adjacent to the inner sides of the bearings l2, and rigidly secured by welding or the like to the opposite ends of thetube l6 are circular.

longitudinally rearwardly of to the inner faces of the sides it, Figure 5.

' such elements.

hollow shields or'cover plates 18 which rotatably engage over the bearings '52, as shown, and

have their outer peripheral edges arranged close The bearing shields 18 include innenvertically disposed sides 79 to which are rigidly secured the opposite ends of transversely extending bars or roller rods 8% which are spaced radially of the tube 76 and extend parallel thereto. The tube 13, end shields l8 and bars 8i! thus form a unitary spool or roller for receiving the folded tent or ta-rpaulin to be rolled up. The elements '56 and 80 are horizontally disposed, as shown, and are 'spaced a substantial distance above the bed or fioor I3 of the truck.

,and M, Figure l, and spaced longitudinally forwardly of the sprocket wheels 33 and associated elements and at a slightly higher elevation than This forward spool roller vice comprises another of the shafts T! journaled Y in another pair of the bearings '52 mounted upon the sides is, as previously described. Another setof the sprocket wheeis '55 are secured to the opposite ends of the forward shaft i! and lie adjacent to the outer surfaces of the sides Hi, as

shown. The remainder of the construction of the forward roller or spool device is identical with .the rear spool de ice including the elements iii,

#9, it, I? and as, all previously shown described in connection with the rear spool or roller device. The forward of sprocket wheels is are arranged in vertical nment with a pair of lower sprocket wheels 8i mounted upon the short shafts 53 and 5% for rotation therewith. Forward sprocket chains 82 similar to the sprocket chains M are operatively connected with the forward sprocket wheels '53 and 3 i, as shown. It is thus evident that rotation of the shafts 2'5 and 28 and it and 55 will impartrotation to the forward and rear sets of sprocket wheels 13 and roller 85 is disposed substantially at the elevation of the bed 13, while the roller 3% is disposed somewhat below the bed, as shown in Figure l. The rollers $5 and engage beneath the tent or the like being rolled up or unrolled, and pre vent the same from hanging up or becoming tangled with he rear end of the truck body.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Through manipulation of the rods it from the cab if of the truck, rotation can be imparted to either one or both of the shaft 2i and 22. Likewise, through the gearing in the gear cases 35 and 5d, rotation may be imparted to the pairs of shafts 2i and 28 id and as desired. Such rotation of the shafts 2'5 and 28 and 41S and 58 will accordingly cause either one or both of the upper shafts i! to rotate through the action of the sprocket chains and 82, and associated elements. When either or both of the shafts H rotate, their associated tubes and rods orbars will, of course, rotate with them.

When it is desired to roll up a large circus tent or the like for transportation by the truck [I], such tent, whichmay be designated by the letter T, is first folded into an elongated section or strip substantially equal to the distance between the bearing shields 18 of the rollers or spools. By manipulation of the rod 26, the gear 24 may be shifted out of engagement with the central gear I 8, while the gear 23 is arranged in engagement with the central gear I 8. With this arrangement, rotation will be imparted to the shafts 21 and 28, but not to the shafts 49 and 50. Accordingly, the forward shaft H will rotate, while the rear shaft 1| and associated elements will remain stationary. With all of the parts at rest, the ropes R of the tent are tied about one of the bars 80 carried by the forward roller shaft H, as shown in Figure 2. The truck in is, of course, arranged longitudinally of the folded tent, and the engine of the truck is started for imparting rotation to the shaft 20, which through the transmission it, as adjusted, will impart rotation to the shafts 21 and 28 and the forward roller shaft 1|. The tent T will be wound upon the roller including the bars and tubes 16, and arranged in a compact roll adjacent to the forward end of the truck body. In anothe tent, large tarpaulin or the like is to be likewise rolled up for transportation on the truok,the gear 24 may be shifted into engagement with the gear l8, and the gear 23 shifted out of engagement with the gear l8, so that the forward roller shaft I? will not r0- tate. When the shaft 2!] is now driven, only the rear roller shaft H will rotate, and the second tent or the like may be rolled up by the rear shaft II and associated elements and disposed in a compact roll adjacent to the rear end of the truck body. Since large circuit tents, athletic field tarpaulins, and the like, are very heavy and unwieldly, the use of our machine for rolling them up saves a great deal of time and labor. When it is desired to unroll the tents or tarpaulins which have been rolled upon the shafts H and associated elements, the trailing end of the tent may be tied or secured to some fixed object, and the truck may be driven slowly forwardly for unrolling the tent from its roller. The machine is highly simplified and compact, extremely sturdy and easy to use.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the. subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A machine for rolling up large tents and the like, comprising a truck including an engine and a body having opposed upstanding sides, a first transverse substantially horizontal rotatable spool journaled upon the sides of the body and disposed near the front end of the body and near the tops of the upstanding sides, a second transversely extending substantially horizontal spool journaled upon the upstanding sides of the body near the rear end of the body and arranged substantially at the elevation of the first-named spool, transverse horizontal shafts journaled upon the body below and adjacent to the first and second-named spools, gearing connecting the spools and transverse shafts, a power take-off shaft connected with the engine of the truck to be driven thereby, and gearing including aslide transmission operatively connecting the power take-off shaft and said transverse shafts for driving said spools separately or in unison.

2. A machine for rolling up a large tent or the like for transporting it, comprising a truck including an engine and .a body including upstanding spaced-apart sides, a forward horizontal rotatable spool journaled upon said spaced-apart sides and extending for substantially the entire distance between them, said forward spool being disposed near the tops of said spaced-apart sides, a rear transversely extending horizontal rotatable spool jcnrnaled upon the spaced-apart sidesnear the tops thereof and extending for substantially the entire distance between thennpairs of transversely extending horizontal shafts arranged near and below the bottom of the truck body and adjacent to the forward and rear rotatable spools, gear casings disposed beneath the bottom of the truck body and connected with said transverse rotatable shafts, a slide transmission mounted upon the truck beneath the truck body and disposed forwardly of the forward rotatable roller, a drive shaft-operatively connected with the slide transmission and with one of said gea-r casings, a second drive shaft operatively connected with said slide transmission and with the other of said gear casings, and a power take-off shaft operatively connected with the engine of the truck and with the slide transmission so that rotation may be imparted through the slide transmission and gear casings to said horizontal transverse rotatable shafts.

.3. A machine for rolling up alarge tent or the like for transportation, comprising a truck including an engine and .a body having spaced opposed upstanding sides, a transversely extending substantially horizontal spool journaled upon the upstanding sides near the tops thereof and .extending for substantially the entire distance between the sides, sprocket wheels connected with the opposite ends of the spool and disposedoutwardly of the upstanding sides of the body, intermediate short rotatable shafts mounted upon the sides of the body below the sprocket wheels of the spool, sprocket wheels secured to the short rotatable shafts, first sprocket chains operatively connecting the sprocket wheels of the spool and the sprocket wheels of the short rotatable shafts, second sprocket wheels mounted on the short rotatable shafts, second sprocket chains operatively engagin the second sprocket wheels, transversely extending horizontal rotatable separate shaft sections journaled upon the truckbody adjacent to the bottom thereof, a sprocket wheel secured to each shaft section adjacent to itsouter end, the sprocket wheels of the shaft sections being arranged in alignment with the second sprocket wheels of the short shafts, said second sprocket chains operatively engaging the sprocket wheels of said separate shaft sections, bevel gears secured to the inner ends of said separate shaft sections, a longitudinally extending shaft mounted adjacent to the inner ends of the separate shaft sections, longitudinally spaced bevel gears secured to the last-named shaft and engaging the bevel gears of the separate shaft sections, and gearing operatively connecting said longitudinal shaft between the innerends of said separate shaft sections and the engine of the truck, whereby rotation may be imparted to said rotatable spool.

WAYNE C. SANGUIN. KELLY H. MILLER.

EEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,250,269 Lockwood July 22, 1 941 2,355,441 Jacob vAug. 8, 1944.- 2,467,869 Spillman Apr. 19, 1949 

